The San Antonio Museum of Art is itself a historic craftwork. Built in 1884, the Lone Star Brewery's original frame building on the banks of the San Antonio River was replaced with the twin-towered brick brewery, completed in 1904. It housed almost half a dozen other businesses through the years before undergoing an award-winning repurposing in the late 1970s.

The city partnered with the Economic Development Administration to attract money from local and national foundations, the private sector and individuals to create the art museum, with Mayor Lila Cockrell christening the effort in 1977 by smashing a bottle of beer on the pale brick walls. The museum opened in 1981 and has expanded twice. A glass sky bridge features rainbow-colored neon tubing by artist David Didear.

Cityscape is a weekly look at a building or place that makes San Antonio distinct. Comments or suggestions are welcomed at citydesk@express-news.net